Funding for STEM building will take time Gaetz says

By Matthew Beaton / The News Herald

Published: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 07:36 PM.

Until then, the key will be to bring the governor around.

“We’ll come back to it next year. It may not be in the same amount. It may be more, it may be less,” Gaetz said. “Between now and then, everybody who has a chance to see the governor probably needs to say to him, ‘Hey this is a good idea governor.’”

PANAMA CITY — Funding for the new GulfCoastStateCollege STEM building won’t be starting from scratch, but it could take time, the state Senate president says.

The facility is estimated to cost $23 million and include 70,000 square feet. In May, Gov.Rick Scott vetoed $14 million for the building from the state’s $74.1 billion budget.

Senate President Don Gaetz said in his experience large appropriations can take two or three years or even longer to come to fruition.

“These things sometimes take time,” he said during a meeting with The News Herald’s editorial board Wednesday.

Gaetz referenced what state Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-PanamaCity, said after the $14 million for the building was vetoed — that every project has a story that must be told.

Gaetz, R-Niceville, said that would happen, but noted it’s already been going on.

“We began to tell the story about the STEM building last year,” he said. “The board of trustees came to me and presented the project to me and asked me to help.”

Until then, the key will be to bring the governor around.

“We’ll come back to it next year. It may not be in the same amount. It may be more, it may be less,” Gaetz said. “Between now and then, everybody who has a chance to see the governor probably needs to say to him, ‘Hey this is a good idea governor.’”